Safety support for line-suspended well equipment



F. N. OSMUN July 20, 1954 SAFETY SUPPORT FOR LINE-SUSPENDED WELLEQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12 1951 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY F. N. OSMUN July 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12 1951 w4 mw w x z z rd/A A a .MH IW -W w Kawflx 2M. 4 0 Q4140? flaw W @igg nR HU m 4 N mN R E 0 JV I. I U w N 0 0 m July 20, 1954 F. N. OSMUN 2,684,118

SAFETY SUPPORT FOR LINE-SUSPENDED WELL EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 12, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Fred /V. Osman INVENTOR.

BY m6,

Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED I sure ram OFFICE SAFETY SUPPORT FORLINE-SUSPENDED WELL EQUIPMENT 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment, and more particularly to a device for use in connection withline-suspended tools and the like, to catch and hold such tools uponwithdrawal of the same from a well, whereby accidental loss of theequipment is prevented.

In carrying out operations in wells, and particularly in oil wells, itis often necessary to make use of line-suspended well equipment ofvarious kinds, such equipment being lowered into the well, either in theopen hole, or while the well is under pressure. The line by which suchequipment is suspended usually takes the form of a cable or wire, and iscustomarily marked in some manner, to indicate to the operator when theequipment is about to reach the well head apparatus, so that thewithdrawal of the equipment may be stopped, before the same forciblyengages the well head apparatus, which would result in breakage ordetachment of the cable or wire, and loss of the equipment in the well.In the event of obliteration of the marking on the cable or wire,however, the operator has no way of knowing when the equipment reachesthe well head, and is therefore unable to prevent the damage or lossreferred to, which maybe caused by overwinding the line.

The present invention contemplates the provision of supporting meanswhich is engageable by line-suspended well equipment, upon withdrawal ofthe same from a well, and which is adapted to grip and hold suchequipment to prevent the same from falling in the well, in the event ofaccidental detachment from the line.

The invention has for an important object the provision of grippingmeans incorporated in well head apparatus and adapted to receive andgrippingly support equipment attached to a line, upon withdrawal of theequipment from the well, whereby the loss of the equipment in the wellby accidental detachment of the line therefrom, is prevented.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety support ofthe character referred to, which includes means for preventing thesupport, under normal conditions of use, from gripping theline-suspended well equipment, but which is effected by overwinding ofthe line to permit the support to grip and hold the equipment to preventthe same from falling in the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety support in theform of a coil spring, which is attached to the well head apparatus inposition to receive and grip the upper end of a rope socket, uponwithdrawal of line-suspended well equipment, to efiectively hold suchequipment against downward displacement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a safetysupport, which includes a coil spring whi h is attached to well headapparatus, and is adapted to receive and grip the upper end of a ropesocket, said support having means associated therewith to prevent theentrance of the rope socket therein, under normal conditions of use ofthe apparatus, but which may be engaged by the rope socket and moved toan inoperative position upon abnormal movement of the equipment inwithdrawing the same from a well, whereby the rope socket may enter thecoil spring and be gripped thereby and held against downwarddisplacement.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are morefully explained in the following description, which constitutes aspecification of the invention, when taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings, wherein- F'igure l is an assembly view, showing theinvention applied to one form of well head apparatus with which it isadapted to be used;

Figure 2 is a side-elevational view, on a somewhat enlarged scale,partly broken away and partly in cross-section, illustrating a preferredform of the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, similar to thatof Figure 2, showing the invention at the beginning of a movement of thewell equipment by which the invention is caused to operate;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View similar to that of Figure 3, showingthe invention in operation, in gripping engagement with the equipment,and supporting the same;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of 55 of Figure3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary crosssectional view similar to that of Figure2, illustrating a somewhat modified form of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View similar to that of Figure6, showing the form of the invention illustrated therein in operation,in gripping engagement with the well equipment and supporting the same.

The invention is illustrated herein as applied to well head apparatus ofthe character commonly called a well lubricator, but it will beunderstood that the safety support can be used with equally satisfactoryresults on numerous types of well head apparatus whether applied to anopen well or to a well which is under pressure.

Such a lubricator assembly is illustrated in Figure l of the drawings,wherein the upper end of a string of well tubing is indicated at it,which is provided with an externally threaded portion 12, for theattachment thereto of a master valve 14. One or more joints of pipe is,suitably connected together, are threadably attached to the upper end ofthe master valve, and a line Wiper be provided, for tightening thepacking 22 into engagement with the line. Such well head apparatus formsno part of the present invention, and is illustrated herein merely forthe purpose of showing the application of the invention.

The implement or implements which it is desired to lower into the wellare attached to the lower end of the line 24 by means of a rope socket23, or equivalent means. In making use of the well head apparatusdescribed above, the master valve 14 is closed by operation of the handwheel thereof, and the collar 20 is disconnected from the upper joint ofpipe l5, whereupon the line-suspended equipment can be inserted in thelubricator above the valve, and the line wiper replaced by replacementof the collar 20 on the pipe [6. Thereafter, the valve I4 may be opened,and the equipment lowered into the well.

Upon withdrawal of the equipment from the well, by winding up the line24, it will be readily seen that the equipment is drawn into thelubricator, and in the event that the withdrawal is not stopped at theproper point, the rope socket 28 may be brought into forcible contactwith the well head apparatus, and the line thereby broken or pulled outof the socket, resulting in the equipment dropping back into the well.The safety support of the present invention is provided for the purposeof preventing such loss of the equipment by accidental detachment fromthe line.

As seen in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, the inventioncomprises a support in the form or a tightly coiled spring 32, which isconveniently attached to the lower end of the line wiper l8, and extendsdownwardly therebeneath, to receive the upper end of the rope socket 28.In the present illustration, the line wiper has a lower end portion 34,of somewhat reduced diameter, which is provided with a counter bore 36,into which the upper end of the coil spring 32 extends. The counterboremay be provided with internal grooves or threads 38, for cooperationwith the turns of the spring 32, to effectively retain the spring in thecounter bore, the external diameter of the spring preferably being suchthat it fits the counter bore tightly. The coil spring 32 is also ofsmaller internal diameter than the external diameter of the upper end ofthe rope socket 28, and may be flared outwardly at its lower end, forthe purpose of guiding the rope socket into the support.

Above the reduced end portion 34 of the line wiper the same is providedwith oppositely disposed recesses ill, in communication with the insideof the linewiper, and in which plungers 42 are movably disposed, whichplungers project inwardly into the interior of the line wiper. Theplungers 42 are urged inwardly by coil springs 44, disposed in therecesses outwardly of the plungers, and retained therein by screw plugs48, or other suitable means A sleeve or liner member 48 extends into thesupport 32, and is formed at its upper end with an annular groove 50,into which the inner ends of the plungers 42 extend, to retain thesleeve in active position in the support. The sleeve 48 is slidablewithin the line wiper, and in its active position is restrained againstsuch sliding movement by the plungers 42 extending into the annulargroove 5B. In its active position, the sleeve extends into the support asufdcient distance to form a stop to prevent the entrance of the upperend of the rope socket 28 into the support under ordinary conditions ofuse of the line-suspended equipment. Upon engagement of the sleeve bythe rope socket with sufficient force to overcome the restraining actionof the plungers 42, however, the plungers will be pressed outwardlyagainst the springs 44, which permit the sleeve to move upwardly toallow the rope socket to enter the support.

In the use of the invention, as described above, the sleeve is placed inits operative position, and upon withdrawal movement of thelinesuspended equipment into the lubricator, the same will be stopped byengagement of the rope socket with the lower end of the sleeve. Theline-suspended equipment may then be again lowered into the well andwithdrawn as often as may be desired, without becoming stuck in thesupport 32. In the event, however, that the withdrawal of the equipment.is not stopped at the proper point, and the equipment is accidentallybrought into forcible contact with the well head apparatus, the upperend of the rope socket 28 engages the sleeve 48 and moves the sameupwardly, the upper end portion of the socket entering the support 32,and being gripped thereby, so that upon breaking of the line 24, or thedetachment of the same from the rope socket, the equipment cannot fallback into the well.

The upper end portion of the rope socket 23 may be formed with grooves52, or other means, when desired, to further assure a firm grippingcontact between the support 32 and the rope socket.

A somewhat modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6and 7 of the drawings. The arrangement of the parts of the well headapparatus in this form of the invention is the same as that previouslydescribed, but in this case the support 32 is attached to the line wiperin a slightly different manner, and the sleeve l8 is omitted.

In this form of the invention, a connector member 54 is provided, whichmay be attached to the lower end of the lin wiper H3 in any suitablemanner, as by means of bolts 55, or the connector member 54 may be castor otherwise formed as an integral part of the line wiper. The connectormember is formed with an annular flange 58 about which the upper end ofthe coil spring 32 is grippi'ogly engaged, to maintain the supportconnected to the line wiper. The support 32 may be flared at its lowerend in the same manner as previously described, to guide the upper endof the rope socket 28 into the support.

The turns of the coil spring 32 are preferably of a diameter smallerthan the external diameter of the flange 58, and also smaller than theexternal diameter of the upper end portion of the rope socket, so thatthe support firmly grips the flange, and also grippingly engages therope socket when the same enters the support, to support the equipmentand prevent the sam from falling into the well.

The operation of the form or" the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and7 is substantially the same as that previously described, the ropesocket being adapted to enter the support upon upward movement of theequipment to an extent which might result in breaking of the line 25, ordetachment of the same from the rope socket, so that the equipment issupported and prevented from being lost in the well.

From the above description of the construc tion and manner of operationof the invention, it will be seen that the same provides a simple andeffective safety support for line-suspended well equipment, which may beapplied to numerous different types of well head apparatus, and by whichloss of any tools or equipment by accidental breaking of the line, uponwithdrawal of the same from the well will be prevented.

The invention has been disclosed in connection with certain specificembodiments of the same, but it will be understood that this is intendedby Way of illustration only, and that numerou modifications can be madein the construction of the various parts, as well as the arrangement ofthe same, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing, an expansible member in the formof a helical coil carried by said hous ng in surrounding relation to aline passing therethrough, said coil having a portion whose turns are ofsmaller internal diameter than the external diameter of said equipmentand bein positioned to receive and grippingly engage well equipmentcarried by said line beneath said member upon upward movement of saidline.

2. in well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing, a member of generallycylindrical shape in the form of a helical coil attached at its upperend to said housing in surrounding relation to a line passingtherethrough, said member having an expansible portion positioned toreceive and grippingly engage Well equipment whose turns are of smallerinternal diameter than the external diameter of said equipment andpositioned to receive and grippingly engage well equipment carried bysaid line beneath said member upon upward movement of said line.

3. In well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing, a member of generallycylindrical shape in the form of a helical coil attached at its upperend to said housing in surrounding relation to a line passingtherethrough, said member having a flared lower end positioned to engageand guide well equipment carried by said line into said member uponupward movement of said line, and an expansible portion above said lowerend whose turns are of smaller internal diameter than the externaldiameter of said equipment positioned to receive and grippingly engagesaid equipment.

4. In well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing an expansible member carried bysaid housing in surrounding relation to a line passing therethrough,said member having a portion in the form of a helical coil whose turnsare of a smaller internal diameter than the external diameter of saidequipment and positioned to be expanded by and grippingly engage wellequipment carried by said line beneath said member upon upward movementof said line, longitudinally movable means in said member and enageablewith said equipment for upward displacement thereby upon movement orsaid equipment into said member, and yieldable means positioned to coactwith said housing and said movable means to resist movement of saidequip ment into said member.

5. In well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended Wel1equipment comprising a tubular housing an elongated member havingexpansible helical turns of smaller internal diameter than the externaldiameter of said equipment and attached at its upper end to said housingin surrounding relation to a line passing therethrough, said memberbeing positioned to be engaged by well equipment carried by said linebeneath said member upon upward movement of said line to expand saidturns to receive and grippingly engage said equipment, a sleevelikeelement in said member and longitudinally displaceable therein byengagement with said equipment upon said upward movement of the line,and yieldable means carried by said housing and engageable with saidhousing and element to yieldingly resist displacement of said element.

6. In well head apparatus, a safety device for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing a member of generally cylindricalshape having expansible helical turns of smaller internal diameter thanthe external diameter of said equipment and attached at its upper end tosaid housing in surrounding relation to a line passing therethrough,said member being positioned for engagement with well equipment carriedby said line beneath said member upon upward movement of said line toexpand said turns to receive and grippingly engage said well equipment,a sleeve-like element in said member and longitudinally displaceabletherein by said equipment upon movement of said equipment into saidmember, said element extending upwardly beyond said member and having anexternal annular groove above the member, and means yieldably mounted onthe housing and extending into said groove to yieldingly resistlongitudinal displacement of said element.

'7, In well head apparatus, a safety support for line-suspended wellequipment comprising a tubular housing, an expansible member carried bysaid housing in surrounding relation to a line passing therethrough,said member having a portion in the form of a helical coil whose turnsare of smaller internal diameter than the external diameter of saidequipment and positioned to be expanded by and grippingly engage wellequipment carried by said line beneath said member upon upward movementof said line, longitudinally movable means in said member positioned forengagement with said equipment, and yieldable means positioned to coactwith said housing and said longitudinally movable means to cause saidlongitudinally movable means to be moved upwardly with said equipmentupon movement of said equipment into said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,223,034 Colgan et al Apr. 17, 1917 1,603,848 Hensler Oct.19, 1926 1,659,244 Cormier Feb. 14, 1928 2,163,007 ODell June 20, 1939

